[Instructional Media Design](/majors/education/instructional-media-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value instructional media design schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the instructional media design degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in instructional media design, no school beat Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania this year. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the town of Bloomsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,046, compared with $22,870 for out-of-state students. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $27,128 in student loans. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $68,509. Set against $27,128 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in instructional media design, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,356. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $26,062 in student loans. Instructional Media Design graduates of Pennsylvania State University World Campus earn a median of $65,835 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,062 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in instructional media design will find it at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,568 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,676 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,330 to complete the instructional media design program here. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $44,294. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a great value for students pursuing a degree in instructional media design, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,206, compared with $16,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $26,867. Instructional Media Design graduates of Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $63,439 early in their careers. Set against $26,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Wilson College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value instructional media design schools. Wilson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chambersburg. In-state tuition and fees average $27,100. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $34,814 in student loans. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $64,016. That is a strong return on a $34,814 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Point Park University earned the #6 position for value in instructional media design this year. Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $39,570 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,323 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $40,759. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Wilkes University placed #7 among the best values for instructional media design. Located in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $43,496. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $26,601. Instructional Media Design graduates of Wilkes University earn a median of $64,004 early in their careers. Set against $26,601 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #8 position for value in instructional media design this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $16,155. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #9 spot for instructional media design value this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Lehigh University came in at #10 for value in instructional media design this year. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,980. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $23,008. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $70,321. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 26%.
More Instructional Media Design Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
